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Nuclear Power
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's estimate of the total cost in terms of (a) compensation, (b) grants and (c) loss of productive capacity arising from the effects of the Chernobyl incident. [13286]
Mr. Lang [holding answer 2 February 1996]: A number of countries were affected by radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident. My Department has no sound basis for estimating the total cost of compensation and grants paid and the loss of productive capacity in all of those countries. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, compensation amounting to £12,085,311 had been paid to farmers up to 31 December 1995.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
European Union
20. Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the timetable for the intergovernmental conference of the European Union. [12362]
Mr. David Davis: The intergovernmental conference will begin in Turin on 29 March. No date has been set for its conclusion.
BBC World Service
22. Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the triennial funding arrangement for the BBC World Service. [12364]
Mr. Rifkind: Changes in the triennium system are under discussion with the World Service.
European Union (New Members)
23. Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the admission of Eastern European countries to membership of the European Union. [12365]
Mr. David Davis: We receive many representations on this subject.
We make it clear that Britain is firmly committed to enlargement to the east, which is fundamental to Europe's security and prosperity.
7 Feb 1996 : Column: 236
24. Mr. Eric Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet representatives of the Palestinian National Authority to discuss future security in the area. [12366]
Mr. Hanley:
I met representatives of the Palestinian National Authority in Gaza and in east Jerusalem only last month. I have no immediate plans for a follow-up meeting.
26. Mr. McAvoy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the President of the European Commission, to discuss progress towards further political integration. [12369]
Mr. David Davis:
The President of the European Commission regularly attends Foreign Affairs Councils. The next such Council is on 26 and 27 February.
27. Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the peace process in Bosnia. [12370]
35. Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [12378]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
On the military side, the parties have shown widespread compliance with the terms of the peace agreement and first deadlines have largely been met. The international community is now concentrating its efforts on civilian implementations and reconstruction so that the people of Bosnia can see the benefits of peace. We are playing a full part in the reconstruction effort. The key to lasting peace is the will of the parties themselves to achieve it.
28. Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Cyprus to discuss her accession to the EU. [12371]
Mr. David Davis:
None, but I discuss the matter regularly with my European and Cypriot colleagues at the European Union/Cyprus Acquisition Councils. The next Council will be held in May.
29. Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Bulgaria to discuss enhancing Anglo-Bulgarian relationships. [12372]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
I visited Sofia on 1 and 2 February. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary hopes to visit soon.
7 Feb 1996 : Column: 237
30. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress towards the establishment of a secretariat for the Antarctic treaty. [12373]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
The issue was taken forward at a meeting of legal experts in Brussels in November when organisational aspects of an Antarctic treaty secretariat were discussed. Discussions continue among treaty consultative parties about the siting of the secretariat.
31. Mr. Parry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to pay an official visit to Pakistan to discuss human rights; and if he will make a statement. [12374]
Mr. Hanley:
I hope to visit Pakistan in the near future to discuss a wide range of issues, including human rights.
32. Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to revisit Jerusalem to discuss progress in the middle east peace process. [12375]
Mr. Hanley:
I visited Jerusalem at the beginning of January and have no plans at present for another visit. I do, however, maintain a close interest in the middle east peace process.
36. Mr. Janner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the middle east peace process. [12379]
Mrs. Jane Kennedy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace progress. [12367]
Mr. Hanley:
I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) and my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) earlier today.
33. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Chechnya. [12376]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
The conflict in Chechnya has brought great suffering and has cost many innocent civilian lives. The situation remains tense; clashes continue daily. A lasting peace cannot be brought through use of force. We therefore urge all sides to abide by the ceasefire agreed in July 1995 and to return to the negotiating table.
34. Mr. Norman Hogg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British-Israeli relations. [12377]
7 Feb 1996 : Column: 238
Mr. Hanley:
Relations with Israel are excellent. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Israel last November, as I did in January. Shimon Peres visited London from 31 January to 2 February.
37. Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made to ensure that all member states pay their share of their dues to the UN. [12380]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
The UN Secretary-General informs member states regularly of the organisation's cash flow situation and reminds them of the need to fulfill their financial obligations. Despite this, at the end of 1995, less than half the UN membership had paid in full to the UN regular budget.
The EU has recently tabled in New York a comprehensive package of proposals, including a revised system of assessments and measures to tighten the penalties for late/non-payment. The aim of this proposal, based on an Anglo-French initiative, is to put the UN back on to a sound financial footing.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the creation of a common United Nations peacekeeping military doctrine; and if he will make a statement. [13947]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
We support a common UN peacekeeping doctrine and have encouraged the UN to develop one. We expect the UN to publish its own short general guidelines for peacekeeping soon. MOD and FCO experts have briefed the UN on "Wider Peacekeeping", the British Army's revised peacekeeping doctrine, and have stayed in touch with UN experts. We are pleased that "Wider Peacekeeping" has been well received and circulated within the UN, and believe that it has already made a valuable contribution to international debate.
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